Check out this What to Do in Hilo, Hawaii trip by AFST on Steller!

What to Do in Hilo, HawaiiDiscover the best things to do in Hilo, Hawaii! From waterfalls and volcano views to markets, beaches, and local culture, this fun guide highlights top adventures for an unforgettable Big Island getaway. 🌺🌈AuthorsAFST
DestinationsHiloItinerary

Explore the Culture

Downtown Hilo
Downtown Hilo stands as Hawaiʻi Island's largest small town, distinguished by its centuries-old wooden storefronts that house galleries, shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions. Many of these historic buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, creating an authentic sense of place. The downtown area evolved around the crescent-shaped Hilo Bay.
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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo serves as a cultural anchor, home to the renowned Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, where the Hawaiian language thrives through immersive education and scholarship. This commitment to perpetuating native culture is reflected throughout the community, from hula performances to traditional practices passed down through generations.
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East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center
The East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center showcases visual and performing arts.
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Best Eats

Moon and Turtle
Moon and Turtle serves innovative dishes highlighting seasonal ingredients.
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Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay
Cafe Pesto has become a beloved institution offering wood-fired pizzas and fresh island seafood.
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Suisan Fish Market
At Suisan Fish Market, locals and visitors gather for extraordinarily fresh poke, honoring generations of fishing tradition.
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Two Ladies Kitchen
Two Ladies Kitchen delights with handcrafted mochi, soft pillows of rice cake filled with fresh island strawberries, showcasing Japanese influences woven into Hawaiian life.
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Support Small Business

Sig Zane Designs
Sig Zane Designs stands as an iconic purveyor of Hawaiian textile art, where each fabric pattern tells stories rooted in native plants and cultural traditions.
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Hana Hou
Hana Hou offers curated collections of locally made goods.
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Nālani Farm Store
Nālani Store provides authentic Hawaiian gifts and home décor that honor native heritage.
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Big Island Candies
Big Island Candies produces exquisite macadamia nut confections and shortbread cookies, perfect omiyage that blend local ingredients with island hospitality.
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Simply Sisters by Lola Miller Designs
Simply Sisters showcases clothing and accessories that reflect island style.
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The Great Outdoors

Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Liliʻuokalani Gardens offers thirty acres of serene Japanese landscaping along the bay, honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and the Japanese immigrant community.
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‘Akaka Falls
ʻAkaka Falls State Park features a pleasant uphill hike through lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves, and draping ferns along a 0.4-mile loop trail leading to the spectacular 442-foot ʻAkaka Falls and Kahuna Falls.
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Wailuku River State Park
Wailuku River State Park encompasses both the 80-foot Waiānuenue or Rainbow Falls and the bubbling pools fed by Peʻepeʻe Falls.
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Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden
Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden showcases over 2,000 species of tropical plants along oceanside trails through a pristine rainforest valley.
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Sign
Just 45 minutes south, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park beckons with opportunities to witness active volcanic landscapes, walk through lava tubes, and experience the raw geological forces that continue shaping the islands.
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Unique Events

Merrie Monarch Festival
The Merrie Monarch Festival stands as the premier hula competition worldwide, honoring King David Kalākaua with a week of ancient and modern hula performances each spring.
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Hilo Farmer's Market
Throughout the year, the Hilo Farmers Market provides daily opportunities to experience local agriculture and artisan crafts, while the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center showcases visual and performing arts.
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